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December 2009 Newsletter

WILL A MAN ROB GOD!  by Paul Galligan

It has surprised me in recent times to find Christian leaders writing articles against tithing. There seems to be much confusion about tithing and the inherent principle of giving to God in tithing. Tithing is not a thing of the law! Tithing is not Old Testament only!

Tithing is a response of faith to a revelation of Jesus the Christ.

I have been a tithing man for 35 years now and it was the Lord who introduced me to tithing by revelation in the first week I was saved in 1974. I was not attending a church; I had never heard of tithing in a church context. I came to know Jesus in a house meeting, coming out of the hippie  scene and Jesus told me that 10% of some money I had received the week before I was saved, belonged to Him. I went to the bank to get the money and wondered to whom I would give it. On the way to the bank, I found a brochure on the street telling me about a ministry in Eastern Europe, to the underground church, which was persecuted by communism. I asked for a Bank cheque for that organisation, and sent my first tithe to Underground Evangelism.

Since that time, as a Christian and a family man, I have many testimonies of God s reward to me in the area of financial stewardship. As a church minister and for the last 12 years as an apostle, I have many testimonies of God s faithfulness because of our faithfulness in tithing and giving, according to revelation. I have seen Melchizedek in vision at the Lord s Table and He spoke to me about tithing.

 

Abraham tithed to the King Priest

Many assume that tithing is a requirement of the Law of Moses and therefore is not for New Testament believers. Few seem to realise that the father of the faith, Abraham, tithed to Melchizedek, the king priest, over 500 years before the Law was given (Gen.14:18-20). It appears that Jacob had a similar revelation to his grandfather. In Genesis 28, after Jacob had a dream in which the way of salvation was revealed to him, he committed himself to be a tithing man in response to the grace of God coming on his life (Gen.28:10-22).

 

Tithing preceded the law as a response of faith and a commitment to the LORD, based upon a clear revelation of WHO HE IS!

 

Tithing is first introduced in the Scripture in Genesis and the fulfilment is given in Hebrews. In Hebrews 7:2, the Scripture says Abraham gave a tenth part of all [tithe] to Melchizedek. The Scripture points out that Abraham, although he was great in himself because of his calling, yet he tithed to one greater, not because of any law but because of revelation and submission. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils  Heb.7:4.

 

 

Levi tithed to the King Priest

Hebrews 7:5 shows that under the Law the sons of Levi were the priests or the ministers, and they were authorised by God to receive tithes from their brethren. The tribe of Levi comes from the fourth generation of Abraham s family, but much later in the history of Israel they became the ministering tribe. Melchizedek was a priest of a different order and he received tithes from Levi s father, even Abraham; and he blessed Abraham who had the promises (Heb.7:6). Therefore Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek.

 

The possessor of heaven and earth blesses the one who tithes

The greater, even Melchizedek, blessed the lesser, even Abraham and his descendants (Heb.7:7). Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth  Gen.14:19. Melchizedek is a revelation of the King Priest, who is Jesus Christ. When Abraham met Melchizedek, he received a revelation of the King Priest. Melchizedek identified God as the Possessor of heaven and earth. In blessing Abraham in the name of God Most High the possessor of heaven and earth, he is giving Abraham dominion rights in the earth. God owns the earth (Ps.24:1), which is a fact most men choose to ignore. 

 

The blessing is dominion

What most believers have failed to understand is that tithing is the means to dominion. We tithe in recognition of the king priest, who grants to us His blessing, which is the blessing of God who owns the earth. When God blesses us in response to our recognition of Him, which is verified by our tithing to Him, that blessing is to walk in dominion in the earth, ruling and reigning as kings.

Likewise in Malachi 3:10-12, this aspect of dominion is clearly portrayed: a tithing person is invited to try {prove}  God to see that He is able to open the windows of heaven. In other words tithing releases dominion: God blesses the tithing person and also grants them special protection from the devourer . As a result a tithing community will stand out as a blessed people, a delightful land  v.12. 

 

When a people of God receive the revelation of the King Priest, which is a vital revelation in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, they will tithe with purpose and understanding.

 

When a fellowship or a ministry group is released in this revelation of tithing, the resources released through the tithing and giving release God s blessing. This provides a powerful means of exercising dominion by reaching nations with the gospel.

A comparatively small ministry group can begin to reach nations with the gospel of the kingdom because God grants dominion through the tithing and giving. This is our testimony: that we as an apostolic ministry receive tithes in the name of the Lord and we tithe on all that we receive. The tithe of tithe as such enables us to give into international ministry, furthering the release of apostles and apostolic ministry in other nations.

 

Whom do we pay our tithes to?

We are no longer under the Law, so we do not pay tithes to Levi according to the law; but we are the children of Abraham by faith and we have received a revelation of the King Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us and saved us. Like Abraham, our response to Jesus is to give a tithe of all to Him. For ourselves and to those who relate to us as an apostolic ministry the tithing is given into the ministry.

·         When the people of God have confidence in the integrity of the ministers and the mission, they then confidently give their tithe into that ministry.

·         As well those tithing know they are receiving blessing and are part of a much greater ministry than they could otherwise be part of.

·         Those who tithe are being fed the word of God; they are being ministered to effectively so they are growing unto maturity.

·         There is also a covering of protection released to those tithing and this covering is especially powerful when the ministry receiving the tithes is in apostolic order.

 

Abraham gave his tithe direct to Melchizedek. We are not told where Jacob gave his tithe. Under the Law, the tithe was for the Levites, the priests who ministered and taught the word of God. However some of the tithe was able to be used to enable the family to go to the feasts in Jerusalem and to feed themselves during that time and have the necessary sacrifices to offer to God (Deut.12:17-25). As well, every third year the tithe [or part of it] was to be distributed in the local area to the widows and orphans, the Levite who lacked, and the stranger (Deut.26:12-15).

Some suggest that there were three tithes to be paid: the first for the Levites, the second to enable the family to attend the feast and the third for the widow, the orphan, the poor and the stranger. The point is that all we have comes from the Lord and if we honour the Lord and those around us who need our help through our finances, there will be no lack, but rather there will be great blessing. Giving generously is the antidote to greed and covetousness.

The Lord directs the tithe to support those who are called to fulltime ministry and who have no other means of support. Sometimes it is appropriate to give some of the tithe to the needy. Decisions concerning the use of the tithe are made by the apostolic oversight or by the local elders. It is not the prerogative of every individual saint to keep charge of the tithe but rather to present it to the Lord into the hands of His appointed ministers. Every minister who is faithfully serving the Lord and His people should be supported from the tithes that are given.

 

What is the tithe?

·         The tithe is literally a tenth part;

·         The first tenth belongs to the LORD.

·         The tithe is holy to the LORD; that is, it is to be set apart for His directed use, and no other.

·         The tithe is on the increase

 

It is a fundamental mistake for churches to use the tithes to pay for a building that they have gone into debt to construct or to use the tithe paying rent. The Scripture is clear that tithing is to support the work of the ministry and offerings are to be received for building costs.

It is clear that the first tenth of all we receive is holy to the Lord and is to be used in the way He directs. There are great blessings for those who faithfully bring the whole tithe to the place the Lord directs (Mal.3:10-12).

In the New Testament church the saints brought that which they wanted to give and laid it at the feet of the apostles. This principle of giving needs to be restored. The apostles are to oversee the use of the tithe and other finances that are given unto the Lord. This works through local elders when those elders are in apostolic order, that is, they relate to an apostle.

 

 

The tithe is on the increase 

Whenever we receive income as wages, as a pension, as a bonus, really any form of income, we are able to set the first tenth apart and give it to the Lord as a tithe.  In other words we tithe on the increase  God gives us, and in the modern world, this is based on money and finance, no longer agricultural products and livestock.

Tithing is the key to living in the economy of the kingdom of God.  His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, governed by spiritual laws that are reliable and fruitful beyond natural boundaries. We give our tithe to our spiritual mentors, to pastors and teachers who feed us spiritually, so that they can continue to do the work of the ministry that the Lord has called them to do.

Tithing in the New Testament

In the New Testament, tithing is specifically referred to in Matthew 23:23 [& Lu.11:42] and Hebrews 7. Jesus affirms tithing as something that ought to be done  and the principle of tithing is affirmed clearly in the references in Hebrews, the Holy Spirit bearing witness. The conclusion then is that tithing is a principle of faith that releases God s blessings in many ways, not only to the one tithing, but to the ministry receiving the tithes. In general our tithe is given to those who minister to us and care for us in the Lord. We are able to make offerings over and above the tithe as the Lord directs.

 

What are tithes used for?

Under the old covenant, the tithes were the income/livelihood for the Levites who as a tribe had no inheritance in land. By application the tithes are used to support the ministers who minister, teach, oversee and feed the flock of God spiritually. Those who minister spiritual things should be supported materially.

For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox while it tread out the grain,  and the laborer is worthy of his wages   1Tim.5:18.

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?  1Cor.9:11 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.  v. 14

 

Tithing is fun! Tithing is a joy! Tithing is a tangible part of our relationship with God! Tithing is of faith! Tithing brings a blessing! God loves a cheerful giver and those who give cheerfully are blessed with much joy and blessing

·         We pray specifically for all people who tithe and give to our ministry in any way.

·         We encourage people to give tithes and offerings intentionally.

·         We encourage people to plan their giving, making it a conscious family venture.

·         We need to know the Scriptures concerning tithing and believe God for His promised responses.

 CALENDAR

Overseas Ministry Trips 2010

February   INDIA Paul & Janet dept 2^nd to minister with Paul Disher

                                   Jean & Bruce Manning & Miriam Truss arrive in India 18^th

                     PHILIPPINES  Paul, Janet, Ian Sproule & Kay Hewson dept. 19^th

April   AFRICA: Nigeria, Ghana & Liberia, then Kenya & East Africa, Paul & Janet dept. 23^rd